Category Archives: Trade Talks

Japan-EU trade negotiations dealing a blow to Japanese dairy farmers

HOKKAIDO, June 29 – As the European Union strongly calls for liberalization of Japan’s dairy market such as cheese in the negotiations for the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement, dairy farmers of Hokkaido are worried that the prices of raw milk would drop, turning their investments into debts. Milk produced in Hokkaido occupies more than half of total production in Japan, and dairy farmers in the prefecture have fought to halt the decline in the nation’s milk production. However, 80 percent of milk produced in Hokkaido is used for processing, which means their produce will compete directly with products from the EU. The farmers have made efforts to maintain and strengthen … Continue reading

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“No price war!” Japanese winemakers say removing tariffs on European wines will harm agricultural industry and tourism in Nagano Prefecture

NAGANO, June 24 —  The Japan-Europe EPA talks regarding a plan to cut tariffs on European wine have emerged, raising tensions in wine producing regions in Japan. “Authentic” wines from Europe with high brand power inevitably compete with Japanese wines price wise, and an increase in European wine import may shave the demand for domestically-made alcoholic beverages such as Japanese sake and shochu (locally-distilled spirits) as well in the country with the nation drinking increasingly less alcohol. Japanese wine producers have been placing extremely high expectations on the role of Japanese wines in the development of the sixth industrialization for an increase in agricultural income. The domestic wines are already … Continue reading

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Japan’s LDP presses gov’t to keep farm tariffs in JP-EU deals

TOKYO, July 1 — Japan’s governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has given a set of final recommendations to the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, seen as a last chance to press for keeping tariffs for sensitive agricultural products, before Japan and the EU’s sealing an overall trade deal. Meanwhile, Japan and EU held a ministerial meeting in Tokyo on the same day, June 30. Agriculture Minister Yuji Yamamoto met EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan to resolve key outstanding issues such as Japanese agriculture market access. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was to meet with EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and EU Council President Donald Tusk in Brussels on July … Continue reading

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Japan-EU trade talks continuing with Japan’s export of green tea and wine in focus

TOKYO, June 23 – European Union’s regulations on Japan’s export of agricultural, forestry and fishery products to the European bloc are now crucial issues in Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) discussions. The trade talks currently affirm the removal of EU tariffs on Japanese wine, green tea, and some other agricultural products. However, just abolishing the taxes will not be enough to support the expansion of the export from Japan, unless regulations restricting export of those products are mitigated or eliminated. Japan sees the tariffs on Japanese food are one of the key issues in the area of the agricultural, forestry and fishery products. It has requested the bloc to remove … Continue reading

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Japanese pork producers fear the impact of market liberalization under Japan-EU trade accord

KAGOSHIMA, June 26 – With Japan and European Union nearing agreement on a free trade deal, pork producers are increasingly worried about their future. Even production areas of quality pork brands are losing competitiveness in recent years, due to the continuing aftermath of disease outbreaks. Liberalization of the domestic pork market to EU with many pork exporting countries could force more pork producers in Japan to give up their business. Farmers are also concerned over the government’s failure to share information, and call on the government to ensure a stable environment for them to continue business. In the city of Kanoya in Kagoshima Prefecture, known as the nation’s major pork … Continue reading

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